Officials OK contract for treatment center

Tuesday

NEW CASTLE - The Lawrence County Commissioners have approved an expanded contract with a Philadelphia-based mental health agency to oversee an expanded treatment and counseling center in New Castle.

Under the agreement, payments by the county's Mental Health/Mental Retardation Department to PMHCC, formerly the Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corp., will increase for the 2007-08 fiscal year, from the originally budgeted $215,473 to $383,013.

All of the additional funding will come from state grants.

John Klenotic, the county's MH/MR director, said the drop-in center will be a one-stop location for therapeutic services, including peer mentoring and counseling, and will also offer a library and reading room, job counseling and a computer room.

The center will provide a place for clients to build work skills and self-confidence. Developing those strengths, Klenotic said, would be just as important as medical and psychiatric treatment.

"If they don't have those things, a roof over their head, food in the refrigerator, all the treatment in the world won't help," he said.

Commissioner Steve Craig said he was concerned about the pace of renovations at the former Universal-Rundle location. Initially, the drop-in center was scheduled to open Aug. 1, but hitting that date is unlikely, Klenotic said.

The new target opening date is Sept. 1.

"I'm just concerned," Craig said. "I look at that building and I don't see much happening."

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